Half to william abernethy



(No Model.) P DYER GATE LATCH. No. 404,391. Patented June 4, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

PHILLIP DYER, OF MOORETOIVN, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO IVILLIAM ABERNETHY, OF SAME PLACE.

GATE-LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,391, dated June 4., 1889.

Application filed November 1, 1888. Serial No. 289,779- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, PHILLIP DYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mooretown, in the county of Lambton and Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate-Latclies, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful iinprovementsin latches for farm-gates; and the invention is especially designed as applicable to that class of farm-gates which are made vertically adjustable, the latch being arranged to be raised and lowered with the adjusted position of the gate and to hold the gate in its closed position at any height.

To this end my invention consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of the parts, all as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings which accompany this specification, Figure 1 is an elevation of an adjustable gate provided with my improved latch. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the sliding block and latch. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section thereof on line X X, Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section thereof on line Y Y, Fig. 3.

The accompanying drawings show a gate arranged to be adjusted to any height by peculi ar devices for which I have previously applied for patent, and the construction of the gate itself is also the subject of another application for patent, and these constructioiis are herein shown for the purpose of making more clear the operation of my improved latch, which was especially invented to form a part of the operation of the adj ustable gate.

In the drawings, A is the hinge-post.

B is the latch-post, and O is the gate,which may be of any of the known and ordinary constructions. D is the latcli-stile thereof.

E is a guide-rail secured to the inner face of the latch-post, and to this guide-rail is slidingly secured in any suitable manner the sliding block F, preferably by means of the straps or bands G. To the upper end of the sliding block is pivotally secured the binder H, which is a bail embracing the guide-rail in such a manner that if it be turned in a horizontal position the sliding block will be free to be adjusted vertically upon the guiderail, and if the bail is allowed to assume an angular posit-ion, as shown in Fig.1, it will hold the sliding block at its ad usted position by the action of gravity on the block.

A recess I is formed in the front of the sliding block, in which are pivotally secured the gravity-latches J, which normally assume a vertical position and are free to swing iii- Wardly upon their pivots; but their lower ends are prevented from moving outwardly by suitable stops K, all so arranged that when the gate closes a pin L secured to the latchpost of the gate will pass into the recess I by raising the gravity-latch on the slide which it approaches; but after having entered the 1e cess it cannot escape until the operator lifts one of the latches, which for this purpose are provided with suitable handles M projecting outwardly from the upper part of the latches. On the top of the recess I preferably provide the plate N with the notch O,which is adapted -to engage with the pin L and lock the gate independently of the latches by letting the sliding block down upon the pin in its locked position.

P is a bail pivotally secured at the lower part of the sliding block, and so arranged that when it is turned downward its outer ends will embrace the gate D, for the purpose of preventing the racking of the gate by animals should they attempt to pass through, and also to take the strain of such hard usage from the pin L. I

The advantages of this construction are that it enables a latch to be built at small expense which can be adapted to any verticallyadjustable gate, and the latch will allow of the opening of the gate to either side and automatically looks it in its closed position.

What I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with thelatch-post and the vertically-adjustable gate, of a guide-rail secured to said post, a sliding block adjustable on said rail, gravity-latches, and a pivoted binder on said block engaging said rail, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with the latch-post and a guide-rail secured thereto, of a verticallyadjustahle gate, a recessed sliding block earryi 11 the keepers and adjustahly secured to said guide-rail by the straps G, and by the hinder II, and the notched plate N, the parts heing arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose described.

33. In Combination with a vertieally-adjustahle farm-gate provided \viththe latish-pin L, the guiderail E, secured to the hitch-post, the recessed block 1 having the noteh O, slidingly secured upon the guide-rail E, the bail or hinder II, the gravity-latches J, adapted to swin to the inside, the stops K, and the forked ball I, the parts hei n constructed and arranged to operate substantially in the man ner and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I a'llix my signature in presence of two Witnesses, this 1 st day of June, 1888.

PHILLIP DYER.

\Vitnesses:

P. M. lle'Lnlcn'r, JOHN SQI-IU'MAN. 

